We are a small business (6 employees) and have an issue with an employee who has worked for us for 6 months and has informed us of a hospital stay and operating meaning a 6 week period of sickness and 4 week period of hospital follow up appointments. This presents us with financial issues covering his work during his absence. I have two questions: 1) are we able to ask him to take some of the time as holiday and 2) to prevent this type of recruitment in the future are we able to ask medical related questions at the interview stage.

By the way we would have still employed this chap if we knew however it would have been nice to have known that this medical issue was up and coming.

THanks for your help

Anne Harvey

ANNE HARVEY